Background
Dinwiddie was born at Glasgow before 2 October 1692 in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom; son of Germiston and Elizabeth Cumming.
governor colonial administrator
Dinwiddie was born at Glasgow before 2 October 1692 in Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom; son of Germiston and Elizabeth Cumming.
Robert was educated at the University of Glasgow and entered his father's countinghouse.
By tradition the surveyor general was entitled to a seat on the Virginia Council, a post Dinwiddie insisted on assuming.
As lieutenant governor, Dinwiddie saw the beginnings of the conflict on Virginia's frontiers that led to the French and Indian War.
Generally, Dinwiddie was able to work in harmony with the Virginia Legislature.
He did, however, prompt a serious conflict with the House of Burgesses shortly after he took office.
Though he quarreled with the house of burgesses, he proved an active and able governor.
He tried to win over the Indians of the Ohio region, he supported the Ohio Company, and he viewed with great alarm French plans for the erection of forts there; in 1753 and again in 1754 he sent expeditions under George Washington to forestall the project.
Robert married to Rebecca Auchinleck (or Afflick); together they had two children: Rebecca Dinwiddie and Elizabeth Dinwiddie.
